Seed-planter



UNITED STATES 4PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM J. KERR, OF OZARK, MISSOURI.

SEED-PLANNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 625,774, dated May 30, 1899.

Applicatloniiled March 14, 1899.

To all whom, t Netty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KEER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ozark, in the county of Christian andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Planters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to hand seed droppers or planters, and has for its object the provision, in devices of the class embracing a seedtube, earth-opening blades, and rod and han-` dle operating mechanism, of improvements in the seed-tube which facilitate the admission of the seed thereto and improvements in the operating mechanism and other parts of the device whereby greater strength and ease of operation of the parts are had and many advantages obtained over the ordinary construction.

Having the foregoing and other objects inV view, the invention consists of certaim improvements and novel combinations of parts set forth in detail hereinafter, and recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2, a similar view.

with the seed tube and hopper and the stationary earth-opening blade removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a detail of the handle and its connection; Fig. 5, a detail of the operating-lever and its connection; Fig. 6, a detail of the seed-receptacle, and Fig. 7

a view of the blank from which the seed-receptacle is formed.`

The stock 1 consists of a flat piece of wood of suitable length and Ibeveled or tapered at its lower end 2. Along one side of the stock is a groove 3, which extends completely through the tapered end at 4.

The numeral 5 designates a iiat piece of steel, secured to the grooved side of the stock at the lower end thereof. This piece extends beyond'the end of the stock and constitutes an earth-opening blade. wall for the slot 4.

The seed-tube 6 is of semitubularform, with flanges 6', which are fastened to the stock in position to bring the semitubular part in line It also serves as a feed is prevented.

Serial No. 708,997. (No model.)

with the groove 3, thus forming the complete seed-conveyer.

The seed-hopper 7, which is fastened to the upper portion of the stock, is dared or widened at its top or mouth and tapers or narrowsdownward until it terminates at the upper end of seed-tube 6 and at a point somewhat below the upper end of groove 3. By reason of this peculiar construction and disposition the seed fed into the hopper by hand is directed to the groove and all clogging or interruption of the The remaining earthopening blade is shown at 8, and consists of a strip of steel secured to the stock at 9 and bent throughout the remainder of its length so that its own resiliency will keep it closed snugly against the beveled portion 2 and coverng the slot 4. The lower end of this blade is beveled at 10 to insure the easy entry of both blades in the ground when the device is in use.

At the upper end of the stock is a handle 11, having la tenon 1l litted into the stock and held by a fastening-'rod 12, extending transversely through it and the stock and having its ends clenched at13. This construction provides a handle which is very strong and adapted to remain firm at all times.

The numeral 14 designates the operatinglever, which is of semitubular form and bent into a transverse eye 15 at its end, said eye being received in an opening 16 in the stock and pivoted on a pin 17, extending through the latter. The lever is disposed immediately below the handle, so that both can be gripped by the operator. An angle-iron 18 has one leg connected to the blade 8, and a rod 19 connects the remaining leg to the lever. This connection is accomplished by loosely passing the end of the rod through the lever and forming it into a curl 20, which fits in the trough of the lever, thus affording a strong fastening which prevents turning of the connecting-rod.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a cheap, simple, and durable form of metallic box or seed-receptacle adapted for attachment to the operator vand designed to contain the seeds to be planted. This box 21 is formed from the blank 22 in a manner which is apparent, and

' it is provided with a cord'23, which is -designed to go around the Waist of the operator and be tied at his back, so that the receptacle will be positioned in front.

In operating the device the user takes the requisite number of seeds from the receptacle with one hand and places them in the hopper and with the other hand presses the blades into the earth and grips the lever and handle,

whereupon the seeds pass out between the blades, after which the device is withdrawn and the soil closes over the seeds.

The present invention is adapted for planting or dropping all kinds of corn, beans, peas,

and the first-named blade, and means forl spreading the movable blade.

2. In a'hand seed planter or dropper, the combination with a stock having a groove extending along its length, of a covering for said y groove, earth-openin g blades at the end of the stock and adapted to receive the seed from the groove between them, and a feed-hopper connected to the stock with its lower end ex- 4L. The herein-described hand seed planter y or dropper, comprising a stock having a tapered end and a groove in its side vwhich eX- tends through the tapered end, a covering for the groove, a hopper connected to the stock and extending over the upper end of the groove, an earth-opening blade secured to one side of the stock at its end, a resilient earthopening blade secured to the other side ofthe stock and normally closed against the beveled portion of the end, a handle secured to the stock, a semitubular lever having an eye pivoted to the stock below the handle and adjacent thereto, and a connecting-rod fastened at one end'to the resilient blade and having its other end passed through the lever and provided with a head received in the concavity thereof. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. KERR. l/Vitnesses:

FRANK DRURY, JN0. S. TAYLOR. 

